Hey folks, Crooker back here again with another issue of Skybound’s Transformers ongoing comic series! This is issue #30, written by Robert Kirkman and the final outing of superstar artist Dan Mora as main penciller. Shame to see him go, but he left quite a mark. This issue had some… let’s say, “market issues” that’s had spoilers kicking around for weeks now, so you’ve probably already formed some thoughts for yourselves. Nevertheless! It is my duty to talk about robots, and by Primus I’m gonna do just that.
Skybound
The big story here, right out the gate, is the extremely controversial characterization of Elita-One, and the choices she makes against Optimus Prime in previous stories leading up to now. This all culminates with what is perhaps Kirkman’s boldest swing yet: Prime gives up his title, gives up his Matrix, and relinquishes his position as an Autobot. This spoiler has been circulating around for a bit now, and it’s had no shortage of complicated reactions from the fans, and I have to admit I’m still fairly unsure how to feel myself. Skybound Elita-One is squarely framed as an antagonist, an anti-hero type of figure that cares more about winning the war than the casualties of innocents harmed in the process, a stark contrast and inverse of Optimus Prime and his EXTREMELY beloved reputation as the compassionate, Superman-like figure. It’s a hard sell, having Optimus bend the knee and say “okay, let’s try it your way.”
However.
This smells like something, doesn’t it? Intrigue? Setup? Ah, my friends, you must remember, Kirkman is no fool, and neither am I or you, dear reader. Of course Elita is wrong, we all know this, and this is yet another hurdle Optimus must overcome to showcase what makes him a leader, what makes HIM worthy, not in the eyes of a magic bauble, but in our hearts, minds and souls. It’s pretty clear what events are to follow with this Elita led Autobot fracture. This is not the first time Optimus has given up the Matrix, or his leadership position, or even the first time he’s had deep concerns about his leadership style (that’s all some classic Furman playbook right there, frankly), but it’s never been done HERE, in this universe, with this high profile a book and creative team, so naturally people are going to be cautious. That said, we would do well to remember Kirkman is just as much a fan of the original ’86 movie as I am, a movie all about actions making the hero, about what it means to be worthy of leadership. He knows what he’s doing. “Let him cook”, as they say.
Skybound
Mora’s final stint as artist is great, as good as he’s been, and it’s such a shame to see him go right around when it seemed he was finally getting comfortable with drawing these massive, blocky, mechanical characters doing more dynamic things. Ah well, hope he returns someday for another stint, his name’s going down in Transfromers history as one of the biggest names to ever work on the book regardless. Sad to see you go, Dan, please give your poor hands and eyes a bit of a rest before you do an eighth book, yeah?
Transformers #30 is a definite turning point for the series as a whole. Who can say how long Matrix-less Optimus will last? It could be years, or just months, with Kirkman’s tendency towards slow burn stories, it’s hard to make a call, but I think that will ultimately make or break how well this does. I think it was a bold and controversial play that will take some warming up to, but if done right, this could very be one of the all time greats of Transformers stories, something that feels both classic and new. I’ll let you cook, Kirkman, I hope you can deliver!
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